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COUNTY

Caldwell County

North Carolina · 81,105 residents (2025 est.) · 471.888 sq mi
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The short version

Caldwell County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,425. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $192,200. With a median age of 45.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
80,536
+4%since 2000
from 77,415 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
171 / sq mi
+4%since 2000
from 164 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
45.4
+21%since 2000
from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:81,105 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
69K73K77K81K84K1990201020202024Caldwell County
202481K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,425
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,739 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,914
+84%since 2000
from $17,353 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
37.3%
+19.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.4%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.435
−2%since 2010
from 0.446 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing4.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$192,200
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$744
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $446 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2000
from 74.9% in 2000
26.5% rent
Vacancy rate
12.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.5%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
34.5%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 38.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+53%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
57
RELATED:See current rent listings in Caldwell County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.8%(70,307)
Black5.4%(4,201)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(1,927)
Asian0.4%(301)
Other0%
Diversity Score19.6%(15,183)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.3%(68,703)
Black4.1%(3,262)
Hispanic / Latino6.7%(5,381)
Asian0.5%(426)
Other3.4%(2,764)
Diversity Score33.1%(26,673)
Segregation Score31.9%(25,716)
Diversity Score
33
+69%since 2000
from 20 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
32
−7%since 2020
from 34 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.8%
+8.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.9%
+18.6 ptssince 2000
from 66.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.2%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.9 min
+94%since 2000
from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.6%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 86.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.1%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.0%
−6.2 ptssince 2011
from 11.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.4%
−2.2 ptssince 2011
from 60.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.9%
−24.1 ptssince 2009
from 55.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
3.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.8%
−41.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.4%
+1.3 ptssince 2012
from 17.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.5%
−72.3 ptssince 2013
from 82.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.4%
+16.0 ptssince 2017
from 70.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 94.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 3.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Caldwell County

Talladega County
Pop 81,603
White County
Pop 80,085
Troup County
Pop 72,844
Vermilion County
Pop 71,259
Places similar to Caldwell County
Head to head

Compare Caldwell County to nearby counties

CALDWELL COUNTY VS
Burke County
Income$58,592+4%
Home value$185,400−4%
Population88,655+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CALDWELL COUNTY VS
Alexander County
Income$65,354+16%
Home value$211,800+10%
Population36,958−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CALDWELL COUNTY VS
Watauga County
Income$51,693−8%
Home value$358,900+87%
Population54,786−32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CALDWELL COUNTY VS
Avery County
Income$61,428+9%
Home value$265,800+38%
Population18,110−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Caldwell County, North Carolina?

Caldwell County, North Carolina has about 80,536 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Caldwell County, North Carolina?

The typical household in Caldwell County, North Carolina earns about $56,425 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Caldwell County, North Carolina expensive?

In Caldwell County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $192,200, and the typical rent is about $744 a month.

How educated are people in Caldwell County, North Carolina?

About 18.8% of adults age 25 and over in Caldwell County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Caldwell County, North Carolina?

About 13.4% of people in Caldwell County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Caldwell County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Caldwell County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,827 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

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19 census tracts
Census Tract 307Census Tract 301Census Tract 309Census Tract 302Census Tract 305Census Tract 306Census Tract 312.02Census Tract 311Census Tract 313.01Census Tract 313.02Census Tract 304Census Tract 303Census Tract 308.02Census Tract 312.01Census Tract 308.01Census Tract 314.02Census Tract 314.01Census Tract 310Census Tract 314.03
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 28645ZIP 28630ZIP 28638ZIP 28611ZIP 28667
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →